Stuart McLaren, 30, who led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car in 2021, died in HMP Glenochil. An inquiry will occur.
His girlfriend had kicked him out in Edinburgh, and the story landed him in Livingston Sheriff Court. Traffic cops did a check on the car. The plate showed it was marked as stolen.
McLaren didn’t stop when they chased him. He drove on the wrong side of the A899, near Uphall, before crashing into a Mercedes at a red light. Then, he hit a Ford EcoSport and Focus. He essentially pushed them out of the way; McLaren was 26 then.
A Range Rover stopped McLaren in Uphall, and he got out of the car on the driver’s side and ran away. Police caught him later.
McLaren was already in HMP Addiewell, and he admitted to dangerous driving. He was under the influence of a drug and drove too fast. He drove on the wrong side of the road and did not stop for officers.
The judge gave McLaren 18 months, pointing out his bad record. The Scottish Prison Service said McLaren died at HMP Glenochil in Alloa on February 13.
He was 30 years old. They will hold a fatal accident inquiry. Police Scotland knows about the death and reported it to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal accident inquiries will happen in due course.